Sicilian Cathedral's stunning mosaics regain golden lustre

Zumtobel AG

29/09/2024 06:00

By Guglielmo Mangiapane
       MONREALE, Italy, Sept 29 (Reuters) - The mosaics of a
mediaeval cathedral in Sicily, built by the island's last Norman
king, are set to regain their golden lustre thanks to careful
restoration work and new lighting. 
    The Monreale Cathedral, erected in 1174–89 near Palermo on
the orders of King William II, is a UNESCO World Heritage site
that combines Western, Islamic and Byzantine styles and is home
to one of the world's largest indoor mosaics.
    The church is "unique in the world," and the beauty of its
art "is like a dart that strikes you, wounds you, makes you
suffer, creates passion and at the same time opens the heart,"
local archpriest Father Nicola Gaglio said.
    The decorations, covering an area of 6,500 square metres
(7,774 square yards) and depicting biblical stories from the Old
and New Testament, are believed by experts to have been made
using 2.2 tons of pure gold.
    Their highlight is the giant depiction of "Christ
Pantocrator" (literally "ruler of all") in the apse, or
half-dome, at the back of the cathedral. It is a typical
Orthodox Christian icon, also present in the Hagia Sophia in
Istanbul. 
    The glass tiles of the mosaics needed restoring due to
damage from water infiltration, regional authorities said last
year, adding that work was slated to cost 1.1 million euros 
($1.23 million), covered by European Union funds. 
    Scaffolding used during the restoration is expected to be
fully removed from the cathedral by mid-October, while the new
lighting, provided by Austrian company Zumtobel, is undergoing
testing and is due to be inaugurated in late November. 
    "A key focus is to highlight the rich colours of the
mosaics, especially the dominant golden tones, while keeping the
lighting neutral on other surfaces to create a balanced visual
experience", Matteo Cundari, a Zumtobel executive, said.   
    According to legend, King William II fell asleep under a
carob tree while hunting in the woods near Monreale when the
Holy Virgin appeared to him in a dream and suggested building a
church on the spot.  
    The legend also said that after removing the tree a treasure
was found in its roots, and its golden coins were used to
finance the construction.      

($1 = 0.8942 euros)

 (Additional reporting by Danilo Arnone, writing by Marta Di
Donfrancesco, editing by Alvise Armellini and Sharon Singleton)
 ((alvise.armellini@thomsonreuters.com;))